Harlow

Harlow's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 82,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Harlow increased by 4.0%, from almost 78,800 to 81,900.

The addition of just under 3,200 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Harlow was home to, on average, 19 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Harlow

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Harlow increased by two years, from 35 to 37 years.

This suburban area had a lower average age than Eastof England and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 1,700 people between the ages of 50 and 59 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 12% of people in Harlow are aged between 50 and 59 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Harlow by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Harlow

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Harlow at a faster rate than across Eastof England.

In Harlow, the proportion of single people increased from 30% in 2001 to 34% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 27% to 31%.

Across Eastof England, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in Harlow fell from 50% to 45%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 12% to 14%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Harlow residents that were self-employed increased from 6.5% to 8.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (58%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 60% in 2001. The percentage of Harlow residents that were unemployed increased from 3.4% to 5.2%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Harlow increased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Harlow, Eastof England and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Harlow

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 34% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 34% in 2001

The number of people in Harlow that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 18,000 in 2001 to just under 28,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 22% to 34% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Harlow that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 53,000 in 2001 to about 45,000 in 2011 (from 67% to 55%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 6,100 to just over 5,400 (from 7.7% to 6.6%).

Just over 1,700 people (1.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 1,000 in 2001 (2.1%).

The population without a religion in Harlow increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Harlow by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Harlow

The percentage of Harlow residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.8% to 3.7% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.1%, while the percentage of Harlow residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Harlow

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 89% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 89% in 2001

The number of people in Harlow from the White ethnic groups decreased from about 75,000 in 2001 to about 73,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 95% to 89% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Harlow from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 2,000 in 2001 to just over 3,700 in 2011 (from 2.5% to 4.6%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 780 to just under 3,100 (from 1.0% to 3.8%).

Just under 1,800 people (1.2%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just under 970 in 2001 (2.1%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Harlow decreased by 5.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Harlow by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

In Harlow, the proportion of private renting increased from 4.8% in 2001 to 11% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.6% to 15%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Harlow fell from 34% to 31%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 59% to 56%.

Private renting in Harlow increased by 6.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Harlow, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Harlow residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.1% to 5.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Harlow residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Harlow decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Harlow, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Harlow, which comprised a single parent, increased from 11% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in three (32%) households had a married couple, compared with 36% in 2001. The percentage of households in Harlow, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.8% to 11%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Harlow working less than 16 hours increased from 1.6% to 2.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (8.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 12% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.9% in 2001 to 2.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Harlow increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Harlow, Eastof England and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Harlow with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.8% to 10% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in three (32%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 31% in 2001. The percentage of households in Harlow without children decreased from 59% to 58%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Harlow residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.8%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Harlow remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Harlow by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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